Happenings:
- Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Brings Music and Art to Earl Scruggs Music Festival with Fundraising Concert and Craft Trails Artists. The event, which takes place from August 29 to 31, will showcase the region’s rich cultural traditions while promoting its heritage. The centerpiece of the weekend is the “Healing the Hollers” concert on Saturday, August 30th at 3:30 p.m., a special event designed to raise funds for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and highlight the resilience of the communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Hosted by Unspoken Tradition, the performance will feature an incredible lineup of musicians, including Zoe & Cloyd, Laura Boosinger, Josh Goforth, Nest of Singing Birds, and Lance Mills. For those unable to attend in person, IAmAVL will stream the concert on Facebook from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., allowing a broader audience to tune in and support the cause. Audiences can watch the live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeNationalHeritageArea. To learn more about the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.earlscruggsmusicfest.com/
- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Explore Asheville and Airstream Ventures are thrilled to announce Asheville, North Carolina, as the host city for the NAIA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in 2026 and 2027. A prestigious three‑day event, the championships bring together approximately 1,300 athletes representing men’s and women’s teams, along with their families and fans, for an unparalleled celebration of collegiate athletic excellence. The event is expected to generate more than $1.3 million in direct spending throughout the Asheville area.
- Buncombe Partnership for Children to host Blockbuster Bash 30th Anniversary Party on Thursday, September 18 honoring the impact that our community helped create for children, families, and educators. The event is from 6 – 9 pm at The Venue in downtown Asheville. Tickets are $50 each or $25 for community organizations. Honorees include CiCi Weston from Christine W. Avery Learning Center, Leslie Anderson, Jennie Eblen, The Biltmore Company, Dr. John DeWitt, Danithza Baker from Spanish for Kids Preschool, Greg Borom from the WNC Early Childhood Coalition, El Telar Shared Resources for Home Childcare, Buncombe County Commissioner Alfred Whitesides, Senator Terry Van Duyn, Former Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
- Montford Park Players, an Asheville theatrical tradition, is proud to announce their upcoming production of King Lear. All performances will be held at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre at 92 Gay Street in the heart of Asheville’s historic Montford District, from September 5th- September 27th on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at montfordparkplayers.org and are, as always, FREE.
- All Souls Counseling Center (ASCC) invites walkers, runners, and community partners to register now for the third annual Mental Health Matters Walk/Run for Awareness on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. The untimed 5k race will begin at 10 a.m. at the Karl Straus Track and wind across the wooded and hilly 3.1-mile campus course. Check-in opens at 9 a.m., a presentation will be held at 9:45 a.m., the walk/run begins at 10 a.m., and the morning activities conclude at noon. Mental Health Matters Walk/Run for Awareness aims to end the stigma around seeking support for mental health issues and will feature a resource fair with representatives from many wellness and mental health organizations in Western North Carolina (WNC).The race and resource fair fosters a space to normalize conversations around mental health struggles so that all who need help can more easily access mental health services. Registration for walker/runners, vendor fair participants, and volunteers is open now. Sign up here: https://runsignup.com/MHM.
- Tickets for all performances in Wortham Center’s 2025/26 Season are now available to the public. Following an early membership presale, several performances are already selling quickly, with Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque sold out, a fourth show added for Robert Dubac: The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron?, and tickets moving quickly for Pilobolus, Ailey II, Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery, The Comedy Zone: Helen Hong, and more. Running from September through May, the season showcases a wide range of top touring artists in music, theatre, dance, comedy and family entertainment. Tickets for all performances are on sale now and available at worthamarts.org, as well as in person at the Box Office or by calling 828-257-4530.
- Explore Asheville is the presenting sponsor of “The Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 years of Americana & Appalachia,” a November weekend filled with concerts and events linking the groundbreaking work of 1925 to the city’s thriving modern music scene. Two significant concert events anchor the weekend: Friday, Nov. 7 | Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show will perform, along with Nest of Singing Birds and Jesse Smathers at The Grey Eagle. Saturday, Nov. 8 | The spotlight turns to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium for a hometown showcase featuring nationally recognized, Asheville-based artists River Whyless, Tyler Ramsey, Toubab Krewe and Floating Action. Tickets for both shows at AshevilleSessions.com.
- Asheville Community Theatre to kickoff of their Broadway Series, part of ACT Late Night, with a one-night-only Broadway Cabaret! It’s a 90-minute mix of songs, games, and performances from Broadway stars and local talent. Produced in partnership with Hi-Wire Brewing, the show takes place in The Event Space Hi-Wire Brewing in Biltmore Village. About the Stars: Nikki Snelson originated the role of Brooke Wyndham in Broadway’s Legally Blonde and dazzled audiences in Sweet Charity, Annie Get Your Gun, and more. Ben Cameron has appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Aida, and Footloose, at the ACT Into the Wilds Gala and is a beloved host, performer, and storyteller known for his razor-sharp wit and Broadway insider charm. https://ashevilletheatre.org/mc_event/broadway-cabaret/
Opportunity:
- Buncombe County Parks & Recreation’s Systemwide Parks & Recreation Master Plan process was well underway when Tropical Storm Helene changed our landscape. The County is ready to return to its efforts and establish goals and a vision for our parks, recreation, greenways, trails, and open space system. The County is launching a brief survey to reassess your needs and priorities for our parks system in the wake of the storm’s impact. The survey is available through Sept. 26th at engage.buncombecounty.org/parksmasterplanfinalsurvey
- The US Small Business Association is now accepting nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards! For 2026, these awards will include: Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Manufacturing, Rural, and Blue-collar Small Businesses of the Year, Phoenix Awards for Small Business Disaster Recovery – strongly encouraged for our Helene survivors And a few others! Join SBA for this how-to webinar: National Small Business Week Awards: How to Submit Your Nomination Tickets, Thu, Sep 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite .
- SBA Loan Overview: Are You Ready to Apply? Discover the SBA loan programs available whether you are a new or existing small business in this webinar on September 10, 2025 from 10 – 11 am. Register: SBA Loan Overview: Are You Ready to Apply? Tickets, Wed, Sep 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
- The YMCA of Western North Carolina announces a new partnership with NFL FLAG. NFL FLAG is the largest and most established youth flag football league in the United States. With over 765,000 athletes in 2,000+ leagues nationwide, NFL FLAG offers a fun, no-contact way to build fundamental football skills, teamwork, and confidence in a safe, welcoming environment. This new program will provide more youth the opportunity to discover a lifelong love for active play, teamwork, and the foundations of healthy living. The Y offers co-ed flag football options for ages 5-13, starting Sept. 2. Learn more and sign up here.
Accolades:
- Spherion Staffing and Recruiting (Spherion) is proud to announce that Franchise Business Review has recognized franchisee Molly Gaffney-Keebler as a 2025 Franchise Rock Star. With offices in Asheville, North Carolina, and Morristown, Tennessee, her leadership is rooted in a long-standing commitment to giving back and bettering the communities her offices serve. Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full list of 2025 Franchise Rock Stars.
BP Solutions Group celebrates 100 years of solutions in Asheville. From their humble letterpress shop in Biltmore Village to their state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot facility, BP Solutions Group’s remarkable century-long journey showcases the evolution of American printing. Watch their fascinating story unfold as three generations of the Williams family share how they’ve adapted from setting type by hand “one letter at a time” to today’s cutting-edge digital solutions. Read their story